Election-related Legal Opinions and Comments

OSCE/ODIHR-Venice Commission Joint Opinion on Amendments to the Electoral Legislation and Related "Harmonisation Laws" Adopted in March and April 2018

This Joint Opinion was prepared jointly by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) following a request by the Chairman of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE). The Joint Opinion was adopted by the Venice Commission at its 117th Plenary Session (14-15 December 2018).

Opinion on Certain Provision of the Law on Funding of and Control of Funding of Political Campaigns

This Opinion was prepared in response to a request by the Central Election Commission of Lithuania. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) conducted this assessment within its mandate to assist OSCE participating States in the implementation of key OSCE commitments in the human dimension.

This Joint Opinion is provided with the aim of assisting the authorities of Uzbekistan, political parties, and civil society in their efforts to bring the legal framework for elections into line with OSCE commitments, Council of Europe’s standards and other international obligations for democratic elections. It was prepared in response to a request from the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan addressed to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission in July 2018.
The Joint Opinion was adopted by the Council for Democratic Elections at its 63rd meeting (Venice, 18 October 2018) and by the Venice Commission at its 116th Plenary Session (Venice, 19-20 October 2018).

OSCE/ODIHR-Venice Commission Joint Opinion on the Law for Amending and Completing Certain Legislative Acts (Electoral System for the Election of the Parliament) of Moldova

This opinion was prepared jointly by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and adopted by the Council for Democratic Elections at its 61st meeting (Venice, 15 March 2018) and by the Venice Commission at its 114th plenary session (Venice, 16-17 March 2018).

OSCE/ODIHR-Venice Commission Joint Opinion on the Draft Law on Referendum of Armenia

This opinion was prepared jointly by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights with the goal of assisting Armenia in its efforts to develop legislation that is in line with key international standards and obligations, as well as relevant OSCE commitments.

OSCE/ODIHR-Venice Commission Joint Opinion on the Draft Laws on Amending and Completing Certain Legislative Acts of Moldova (Electoral System for the Election of the Parliament)

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) co-operated with the Council of Europe's Venice Commission in preparing this Joint Opinion, which was adopted by the Venice Commission at its 111th plenary session on 16-17 June 2017.

OSCE/ODIHR-Venice Commission Joint Opinion on Amendments to the Electoral Code of Bulgaria

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) co-operated with the Council of Europe's Venice Commission in preparing this Joint Opinion, which was adopted by the Venice Commission at its 111th plenary session on 16-17 June 2017.